ASEAN Summit for MSME development opening tomorrow

In honor of 50 years of growing ASEAN integration and progress, the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) presents the PROSPERITY FOR ALL SUMMIT—a one-day event focused on “Driving growth through micro and small entrepreneurs in Trade, Services and Agriculture,” at the City of Dreams, Manila on April 28, 2017.

The establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) has created both opportunities and challenges for the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the region.

Thus, the need to strategically equip MSMEs with the right tools has risen in order to enable them to engage in the increasing competitiveness of the business environment.

Last 2015, the 26th ASEAN Summit held in Kuala Lumpur & Langkawi, Malaysia exposed the need to put these MSMEs at the center of the ASEAN agenda.

To address this need, the community is working to consolidate the efforts of enablers from the public & private sector in light of advancing MSME development and empowerment in the region.

“We’re expecting delegates from all of the 10 ASEAN countries to attend this momentous summit — along with the ASEAN-BAC members from other countries who are business leaders and innovators in their respective areas,” says the current ASEAN-BAC Chair, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion.

As ASEAN Business Advisory launches AMEN (ASEAN Mentorship For Entrepreneurs Network), a private-public partnership platform where mentors and world class teaching modules for MSME empowerment can be developed and actively shared among ASEAN Member States, this panel will highlight the significance of mentorship for entrepreneurs to become successful and to have more meaningful and economically rewarding role in the AEC framework.

The Summit is expected to be a gathering of enablers from both the private and public sectors in view of MSME development. It will also be the initial meeting to lay out the blueprint for the ASEAN Business Advisory Council’s regional mentorship program, AMEN, and an avenue for leaders and heads of states to share their plans on achieving inclusive growth and prosperity not only in their own respective countries, but also in the region, collectively.

ASEAN-BAC Chairman Joey Concepcion further disclosed that “we (ASEAN-BAC) have invited all ten ASEAN state leaders from our neighboring ASEAN countries to participate in the exchange of best practices and initiatives for MSME development. It is no question that this coming together of all ASEAN nations to empower our MSMEs is integral to achieving prosperity for all.”

The Summit aims to pursue genuine and inclusive growth & prosperity for the entire ASEAN community. The whole-day event’s program is composed of keynote speeches from renowned ASEAN leaders and five main sessions, namely: Creating an enabling environment in achieving prosperity for all; where’s the market? Strengthening the one ASEAN market to access global markets; Where’s the funding? Opening up innovative and inclusive financing options for micro and small entrepreneurs; and How do we transform? Establishing efficient business practices through disruptive technology and innovation.